FAQs

Do I get to keep ownership of my product’s code and IP?

Yes. All teams will keep ownership of their product’s code and IP. Neither Verizon nor NYC Media Lab have rights to any code or IP that is submitted to the Challenge.

Tell me more about the funding. How does the cash prize work?

Challenge winners will each be awarded a $100K in the form of a grant. Teams may use the grant funds to develop and refine their products in the 5G environment during the spring 2019 product accelerator program.

I’m a for-profit startup / for-profit enterprise. Can I still apply?

The lead applicant and grant recipient must be a 501c3 nonprofit entity, or must be affiliated and/or supported by a university or a 501c3 nonprofit entity.

Can I submit more than one application to the Challenge?

Yes. Teams may submit more than one application to the Challenge. Each application should address one of the three challenge areas.

How mature do you expect my product to be? Can I submit an early-stage idea?

We expect submissions to reflect our goal to improve educational outcomes in middle schools
by using cutting-edge technologies. We are seeking products that can be developed and tested
in the 5G environment during the spring of 2019, and potentially pilot tested at select middle
schools by the end of 2019.

How will my team / product be evaluated? How do you select teams?

A cohort of judges will assess each submission based on the two primary priorities: educational impact and technical potential to scale in 5G environment.

When will I know if I’ve been selected?

We expect to select and inform Challenge winners by February 2019.

If I’m selected, what’s next? Tell me more about the product accelerator program.

Selected Challenge winners will participate in the 5G EdTech Challenge Product Accelerator program that will begin in February 2019 and run through June 2019. Challenge winners will partner with Verizon 5G specialists to develop, test and refine their products in the 5G environment. How teams will access 5G will be determined on a submission by submission basis.